Wrist support with palm pad

Abstract

This invention provides a bowler's wrist support that includes a flexible body adapted to be wrapped around the hand and wrist with straps to hold it in position. A rigid reinforcement may be included to prevent bending of the wrist. The body includes a pocket within which fits a pad which is positioned at the palm of the hand when the device is worn. The pocket is larger than the pad, so that the pad may be moved around to the optimum position. The contour of the pad follows the shape of the hand so as to not interfere with movement of the hand or to cause discomfort.

I claim: 
     
       1. A bowling wrist support comprising a body of flexible sheet material adapted to be wrapped around the hand and wrist, said body having a first portion positionable over the back of the hand and wrist,   a second portion positionable over the edge of the hand and wrist, and a third portion positionable over the palm of the hand and the inside of the wrist,     means for securing said body in position when so wrapped around a hand and wrist, said third portion of said body defining a pocket positionable generally at the center of the palm of the hand when said body is so wrapped around the hand and wrist, and     a pad of resilient material in said pocket, said pad having a lateral dimension sufficiently smaller than that of said pocket to allow said pad to be shifted laterally in said pocket relative to said body for permitting selective locations of said pad relative to the palm of a hand around which said body is so wrapped,   said pad tapering in thickness toward at least one edge thereof, said pocket having an opening providing access to said pad for permitting manual movement of said pad to such selective locations.     
     
     
       2. A device as recited in claim 1 in which said pad includes a third edge at an obtuse angle to said second edge of said pad, said third edge projecting from the end of said second edge remote from said corner, and a fourth edge at an obtuse angle from said third edge, said fourth edge interconnecting said third edge and said arucate edge of said pad. 
     
     
       3. A device as recited in claim 2 in which said fourth edge is longer than said third edge of said pad. 
     
     
       4. A bowling wrist support comprising a body of flexible sheet material adapted to be wrapped around the hand and wrist, said body having a first portion positionable over the back of the hand and wrist,   a second portion positionable over the edge of the hand and wrist, and   a third portion positionable over the palm of the hand and the inside of the wrist,     means for securing said body in position when so wrapped around a hand and wrist, said third portion of said body defining a pocket positionable generally at the center of the palm of the hand when said body is so wrapped around the hand and wrist, and     a pad of resilient material in said pocket, said pad having two converging edges which meet to define a corner positionable at the heel of the hand, and an arcuate edge substantially opposite from said corner and positionable adjacent the fingers,   said pad tapering in thickness from substantially at said corner to said arcuate edge.     
     
     
       5. A device as recited in claim 4 in which said pad includes a relatively short substantially straight edge connecting to one end of said arcuate edge and positionable adjacent the side edge of a hand, said pad tapering in thickness from said corner to said relatively short substantially straight edge. 
     
     
       6. A device as recited in claim 5 in which said pad includes an additional substantially straight edge interconnecting said first mentioned substantially straight edge and one of said two converging edges. 
     
     
       7. A device as recited in claim 6 in which said two converging edges are substantially straight. 
     
     
       8. A device as recited in claim 7 in which said corner is rounded. 
     
     
       9. A device as recited in claim 5 in which said pad includes two principal surfaces, one of which is substantially flat and the other of which is domed. 
     
     
       10. A device as recited in claim 9 in which said two principal surfaces substantially intersect at said arcuate edge and said first mentioned substantially straight edge. 
     
     
       11. A device as recited in claim 4 in which said body includes two outer layers of flexible sheet material, and a layer of resilient cushioning material intermediate said outer layers, said layer of resilient cushioning material being substantially coterminous with said two outer layers at said first and second portions of said body, and extending into said third portion of said body at a location remote from said pocket. 
     
     
       12. A device as recited in claim 4 in which one of said outer layers is coterminous with said third portion of said body, and the other of said outer layers extends over said third portion of said body only to the edge portions of said pocket, said pocket being defined by an additional layer of flexible sheet material extending over the remaining portions of said one outer layer. 
     
     
       13. A device as recited in claim 12 in which said pocket has an opening facing said second portion of said body and in juxtaposition with the intersection of said second and third portions of said body. 
     
     
       14. A device as recited in claim 4 in which said body at said third portion includes a first outer edge adapted to extend across the palm of a hand adjacent the proximal ends of the fingers, and a second outer edge at an acute angle to said first outer edge adapted to extend across the palm of a hand from adjacent the proximal end of the index finger to the heel of the hand, said pocket extending substantially to said first and second outer edges. 
     
     
       15. A device as recited in claim 14 in which said means for securing said body in position includes strap means, and one of said strap means projects from and forms a continuation of said first and second outer edges. 
     
     
       16. A device as recited in claim 15 in which said body includes a strip of resilient material extending along said second outer edge. 
     
     
       17. A bowling wrist support comprising a body of flexible sheet material adapted to be wrapped around the hand and wrist, said body having a first portion positionable over the back of the hand and wrist,   a second portion positionable over the edge of the hand and wrist, and a third portion positionable over the palm of the hand and the inside of the wrist,     means for securing said body in position when so wrapped around a hand and wrist, said third portion of said body defining a pocket positionable generally at the center of the palm of the hand when said body is so wrapped around the hand and wrist, and     a pad of resilient material in said pocket, said pad having a smaller lateral dimension than that of said pocket, whereby said pad can be shifted laterally in said pocket relative to said body for permitting selective locations of said pad relative to the palm of a hand around which said body is so wrapped,   said body at said pocket including a first edge adapted to extend across the palm of a hand adjacent the base of the fingers,   a second edge at an acute angle to said first edge adapted to extend across the palm of a hand adjacent the base of the thumb, and   a third edge defining an opening to said pocket at an acute angle to said second edge and adapted to extend alongside the edge of the hand remote from the thumb,     said pad having an arcuate edge adjacent said first edge of said body,   a first generally straight edge adjacent said second edge of said body, and   a second generally straight edge adjacent said third edge of said body, said second and third edges of said pad meeting at a corner,   said pad tapering in thickness from adjacent said corner to said arcuate edge.